Aahana Swrup
Netflix’s ‘Under a Dark Sun’ (Originally titled ‘Qui Sème le Vent’) is a crime thriller where one murder digs up a dysfunctional family’s long-buried secrets. The French show centers around Alba, a young single mother, who applies for a flower-picking job at a luxurious Estate in the countryside to start her life anew with her young son, Leo. Nonetheless, things quickly go south for the duo when she’s framed for the murder of her employer, Arnaud Lasserre. To make matters worse, she also discovers that her boss had been her biological father all this time. Naturally, her stake in the inheritance shines an even more suspicious light on her by the authorities and Arnaud’s vice-ridden family. Yet, nothing is as it seems, especially when it becomes clear that the answer to the burgeoning mystery of the patriarch’s death lies somewhere in his hidden heir’s history. As a result, the narrative freely dives into complicated themes of family drama through interpersonal dynamics. Consequently, the real-life resonance of these elements remains worth exploring.
Under a Dark Sun is a Fictional Tale That Plays Into Genre Conventions
‘Under a Dark Sun’ pitches an intriguing murder mystery in which the protagonist’s whole world gets turned upside down while she simultaneously becomes the prime suspect in a high-profile murder. Therefore, the primary mystery centers not only around the death of a family patriarch but also around the truth about Alba’s biological parentage. As this sets a compelling stage for a whodunnit narrative, the intensely dramatic elements of the story distance it considerably from reality. Therefore, Alba and her bewildering venture into the Lasserre family estate retain no direct connections to real-life individuals or incidents. The show largely remains a work of fiction accredited to screenwriters Thomas Colineau, Camille Couasse, Marine Lachenaud, Claire le Luhern, Jules Lugan, and Nils-Antoine Sambuc.
Yet, even though Alba’s story isn’t inspired by reality, it maintains a level of familiarity that might resonate with the audience. Various elements of the story, from the characters and their dynamics to the narrative arcs, employ well-cemented tropes and cliches of the beloved murder mystery genre. For instance, throughout the personal investigation that Alba and her unexpected ally, Manon, the lawyer, helm, the duo runs into various twists and turns that fans of the genre will recognize. Misdirected tropes like false suspects, an unsuspecting killer, and a thorny victim all circle around Arnaud’s mysterious death. Furthermore, the luxurious Lasserre estate adds a visual and narrative element that also ties the story into classic murder mystery tales. On the other hand, the Lasserre family’s complicated relationships among themselves and with Alba add another layer of relatability to the narrative. Still, although these elements cement the show in some realism, the story itself remains a work of fiction.
The Lasserres Family Explores the Reality of Flower Farming
Even though the characters in ‘Under a Dark Sun’ are rendered fictional alongside their narratives, some level of realism remains attached to them. For the Lasserre Family, this is apparent in a number of ways. Most notably, the interpersonal relationships that these individuals have amongst themselves allow for some level of resonance and relatability. Whether it’s the taut father-son relationship between Arnaud and Mathieu or the bitterness between the latter and her daughter, Manon, these familial dynamics add to the tale’s overall realism. However, the Lasserres mine real-life connections through another facet of their stories.
The Lasserre family has established itself as a wealthy, illustrious name in Grasse thanks to their flower farming operation. They have been growing roses in their estate for decades, which in turn has made them prolific in the perfume industry. In real life, there are multiple such farms that specialize in harvesting scents for the beauty industry. Grasse, Provence, in particular, is home to one of the most beloved “Perfumery Gardens” in the world. For the past five generations, and counting, the Mul family has been cultivating flowers which contribute to the making of the beloved Chanel Nº 5 fragrance. Likewise, the luxury French perfume house Matière Première also grows its own ingredients in founder Aurélien Guichard’s Grasse-based estate.
Therefore, even though the Lasserre shares no direct connection with these prominent flower farming operations, the latter contextualizes the realism linked to the former. Alternatively, the darker side of the Lasserre farms, which includes the exploitation of migrant workers, shines a different, yet equally realistic light on the European farming industry. In June 2025, authorities discovered inhumane conditions for undocumented migrant workers who were put to work as grape-pickers in Reims, France. Similarly, several allegations were made in 2023 against Champagne vineyards regarding rights violations of migrant workers. As such, the storyline revolving around Valentin and his sex trafficking ring under the Lasserres’ noses highlights in part the brutal reality of migrant exploitation in such industries.
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